The Home Depot Foundation Invests $10M for Aging-in-Place Veterans

ATLANTA—The Home Depot Foundation, a foundation aiming to improve the homes and lives of U.S. veterans and tradespeople, is investing $10 million to help veterans age in their current residences and avoid homelessness, in honor of Veteran’s Day and its annual Operation Surprise initiative. This funding aims to address the need for accessible and stable housing for aging veterans, a population expected to surge in the coming decades.

“As veterans age, small accessibility modifications can mean the difference between remaining in their own homes versus being displaced,” said Erin Izen, executive director of The Home Depot Foundation. “With this new $10 million investment, The Home Depot Foundation is proud to further our support of our nonprofit partners improving veteran housing across the country, helping veterans safely maintain their independence for years to come.”

The funding seeks to facilitate:

• The Creation of Affordable Housing: Over 230 new or refurbished rental units constructed by organizations, including U.S. Vets and Coalition for Responsible Community Development, will be made available for veterans.
• Critical Home Repairs: More than 125 urgent home repairs for low-income veteran families will be conducted by organizations like Operation Homefront, a nonprofit serving ill or injured veterans and their families.
• Financial Relief: Rental and/or mortgage assistance provided by the Housing Assistance Council and similar organizations will be provided to over 270 veterans.
• Home Adaptations and Smart Homes: 400 home adaptations and critical home repairs will be completed by Semper Fi & America’s Fund. Additionally, seven new fully-custom smart homes will be built by Gary Sinise Foundation for veterans with significant service-related disabilities.

“The generous investment from The Home Depot Foundation is an important step forward in our shared mission to support and uplift our veterans through housing,” said Stephen Peck, CEO of U.S. Vets, a nonprofit aiming to helping veterans and their families transition from homelessness. “We are honored to be a partner in this initiative to expand affordable, accessible supportive housing that meets the needs of those who have bravely served our nation.”

In celebration of its annual Operation Surprise initiative, The Home Depot Foundation and Team Depot—The Home Depot’s associate volunteer force—seeks to undertake hundreds of service projects across the nation aimed at enhancing the safety and accessibility of veterans’ homes. Throughout the month of November, Team Depot intends to make veteran housing safer, more accessible and livable. Beyond physical improvements, Team Depot plans to deliver special moments of appreciation to honor veterans who have served.